Self Improvement Articles

The oldest known Facial massage in human history dates back to the third century B.C. where it was written about in an ancient Chinese medical text. Scientists have discovered many subsequent ancient medical records in archeological digs conducted in Greece, Persia, Japan and India. All these early-day writings have one thing in common; their Facial massages were described in vivid details but always as part and parcel of total body massage therapies in which specific pressure points on areas of the face and neck were depressed sufficiently to loosen obstructions in the flow of the vital energy which is also known as gi. The standalone Facial massage of the recent Western world was popularized in the twentieth century Europe before it was inducted into the North American world of cosmetic and beauty treatments. As a result, Facial massage came to be regarded as the job for estheticians, cosmetologists and makeup artists rather than massage therapists.

In the cosmetic and beauty arena, the Facial massage is administered with the intent to slow down the natural aging process and to attain younger, healthier and more vibrant looking and feeling facial skin. However, Facial massage also has therapeutic benefits as it can relieve and mitigate stress, migraine headaches, premenstrual syndromes (PMS) as well as sinus congestion.

In spite of their growing demand as entire massage sessions of their own, Facial massages are not precluded from total body massage treatments. Needless to say, Facial massage treatments which are performed the entire session are much more comprehensive and include many elements which are not included in Facial massages that are part of full body treatments. In both instances, though, gentle yet stimulating upward strokes are used in circular or semi-circular gliding movements. A typical and basic Facial massage will include the following procedure and usually in that same specific order:

* With the client comfortably reclining on his or her back on a treatment table and the professional seated closely to the client’s head, the face is thoroughly cleanses and wiped dry.
* A lubricant such as a cream, a lotion or oil is applied to the entire face and neck area. The Facial massage will begin with repetitive rounded movements and will include every part of the face as well as the neck, ears and scalp. Crucial pressure points will also be stimulated in the process.
* The face, neck and ears are cleansed of the lubricant used for the massage and a facial moisturizer is applies.

Facial massages may also include the removal of facial hair as well as the removal of blackheads and whiteheads which will necessitate a moist steam treatment. These three elements will be included right after the massage session and before the application of the moisturizer. In addition, the entire process may be culminated with the application of full or partial makeup and sometimes even a hairdo.

The benefits of the Western style Facial massage are:

* Improvement of the facial skin and its muscle tone.
* Relaxation of the facial and eye muscles.
* Alleviation from tension headaches and general facial pain.
* Relief from stress and anxiety.
* The overall release of stress from the body and mind.

Facial massages are part of full body treatments in Eastern therapies where pressure is applied to points on the face which correspond to various internal organs such as the stomach, the liver and the gall bladder. With such different techniques, it is not surprising therefore, that the benefits of the Eastern Facial massages are very different from those of the West:

* The stimulation of meridian points on the face.
* Relief from eyestrain and neck tension.
* Correction of liver and fall bladder imbalances.
* Recovery from nervous disorders of the stomach.
* Release from premenstrual water retention.

Facial massages, Eastern or Western, are not recommended under the following circumstances:

* While clients are wearing contact lenses.
* Open sores, boils, cuts or recent scar tissues in the face or neck areas.
* Inflamed, infected or bruised skin of the face and neck.
* Acne, psoriases or eczema, all of which can be worsened by the treatment.

Facial massages are most often performed with bare hands that are lightly lubricated by oils or lotions to help them glide more smoothly over delicate facial skin. However, there are some mechanical devices that may also be used instead of the hands or in addition to them. Best of all, in my opinion, Facial massages can very easily and effectively be self administered just about any time and anywhere, and there are countless resources on the Internet that will instruct interested persons how to master the art.

How to Plan Meals and Snacks

As a baby boomer, you have to constantly be watching your health, making sure that the food you bring into your body is prolonging your life, not shortening it. However, even though many of us plan to eat healthy, we don’t always follow through on those plans. Perhaps because we are in a rush, we stop by a drive thru or a convenience store for less than healthy food. We pack on the pounds because of this, and this can cause health problems. To combat weight gain in our busy lives, we have to make a meal schedule.

Meal planning is easy, but it takes a bit of time to do. Many people don’t go through with it because it seems boring or daunting at first, but when you do it, you will be glad you did. Before you get to planning, the first thing you need to do is look at your budget, and see how your new meal plan can fit into it. There are also plenty of options to save on your grocery shopping. Make sure that the things that you put on your meal plans are written by you, so that you will not have any dislikes in your plan. Sweet potatoes may be healthy, but if you don’t like them, then it doesn’t make sense to have them in your plan.

The first thing to do is grab a pen and pencil, or your tablet, and in your notepad or notes section, write the days of the week on the left side. Then, at the top, place breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. On another page, scribble down some vague descriptions of what you want to eat during the week. Remember, it has to be healthy and home-cooked, so Burger King doesn’t count. If you like sub sandwiches, jot that down. If you like apples and peanut butter, jot that down. Have all the things you’ve eaten over the past week there too, and take out the unhealthy ones. After you have done this, it is now time to start making your meal plan.

Start by going online or downloading recipe apps to see what foods you can eat. For breakfast, if you’ve jotted down that you like pancakes, then look up some healthy pancake recipes, and write that down under the days you would like to eat it. On a separate piece of paper, ensure that you write down a list of all the things you will need to make this recipe. Some great places to look for recipes are Food Network, All Recipes, Yummly and Pinterest. Be adventurous and try new healthy things. These sites and apps will usually show nutritional facts for these meals.

Once you have filled out all the breakfast boxes for the week, you can then move on to lunch, dinner and your snacks. If you need a day to cheat, then don’t leave it up to you to decide on the day. Decide on a day from now and write it on the calendar, and stick to that day every week. Cheat days are best done on the weekends, especially Fridays. Once you’re done, it is time to shop. You will realize that by doing this, you save money and you live a healthier life at the same time.